A humorous look at Mac lovers and the computing bug that gets us all.
From The Macintosh Permian User Group.

The Computer Bug

by Cerise Welter

Even though there is no shortage of computers in my home, I enjoy nothing better than going down the aisles of one of the local computer stores. I canít imagine spending hours walking the mall window shopping, or rummaging through sale racks, but there is one type of shopping that really gets under my skin. That would have to be computer shopping. It seems that they know when Iím coming and load the shelves with the latest peripherals, monitors, and software. Seeing a new Mac can just about send me into a frenzy. When I see the speeds at which they run, I get a little heady. I even get a little excited when I see the new PCs. I know that that last statement will cause hackles to rise on some of you, but I saw the neatest LED display on a PC this past week. Now I canít imagine having an LED monitor. One quick puncture from my cat and it would be all over, but the clarity on that monitor was amazing. I suppose it is the advances in technology that amaze me, and to be a part of that is so exciting. I am not mathematically inclined, but I just think the electronic kingdom is such a marvel.

To be able to create a newsletter using pre-created templates, on a computer is wild. I simply plug in articles, graphics, and print it out! I am no journalist, but I did take journalism in school, and it was far more complicated. Cut and paste (literally), spaced just so, lay it all out, boring! Now that we have desktop publishing it is an easy thing to get a flyer, newsletter, card, or just about any other paper based publication out for viewing.

When Iím perusing the aisles at a discount computer store I imagine myself creating wonderful computer animated cartoons or commercials. Paul Woods (Woods Boots) makes his commercials on a Mac based computer. You might recall his ìWhale of a saleî, or the latest Valentine sale. The little hearts morph into the great state of Texas! Oh yes, have you seen the cartoon ìRebootî? I love it as it is all computer generated. When I first started MacPUG I used ClarisWorks 2.0 to make the Pug on the first page of our newsletter. I wish now Iíd had a more detailed program and a pen imput device, but Iím still proud of how he turned out.

I know that each one of you out there go through the same thing when you are near a new Mac. Just a little more speed, a new operating system, a faster modem, a bigger hard drive, all of these are enticements to buy, buy, buy. Oh and then thereís all those Mac magazines that fill our heads with visions of the newest Powerbook, it should be a crime to tempt us like that! Now they come with CD-Rom drives built right in; color displays, PCMCIA cards, and fancy imput devices. It just isnít fair.

I can honestly say I would rather get a new computer than buy new furniture.

I probably shouldnít confess all this to you, but I think our User Group serves as a kind of AA for Mac lovers. Now we just have to find a 12 step program to help us refrain from buying another system, another add-on, more software, and those bright colorful Mac created magazines!

It is getting quite serious here at our home. My husband actually used the Mac to browse the internet. He spent close to an hour chatting with astronomers. He has never spent any time using the Mac, he has always been concerned heíd delete the hard drive. (He did this the 4th day we owned our first PC). Now he has tasted of my Mac, I may never get to use it again. Hey, Iíll have to get a new one! ìHoney, hey honey, the Mac is freeî.


Cerise Welter, is the president of the Macintosh Permian User Group. Copyright 1996

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